Vestibule-car



(No Model.)

J. J. KIRKHAM.

VESTIBULE UAR.

No. 439,523. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

Jlllllll A TTOHNE YS UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

JOHN J. KIRKHAM, OF NILES, MICHIGAN.

VESTlBULE-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,523, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed April 16, 1890.

To all whom it may cmwern:

Be it known that I, J OHN JAMEs KIRKHAM, of Niles, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigamhave invented a new and useful Improvement in vestibule-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, generally, to a vestibule-car, and particularly to an improved mechanism, whereby the contacting-frames of opposing flexible portions are held in constant contact and sudden jars are relieved.

The object of myinvention is to provide an improved mechanism of the character de scribed, that shall consist of very few and simple parts, that can be quickly and easily applied to any vestibule-ear now in use, and one that will perform all the necessary operations in a highly efficient manner.

\Vith this object in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of the various parts such as shown in the drawings and hereinafter fully explained, whereby the various objects of the invention are accomplished.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which the same letters indicate the same or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a viewin elevation of the end of a car with my invention applied thereunto. Fig. 2 is a view showing a modified arrangement.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a vestibule-ear having the usual flexible portion B. Horizontal rods G 0, arranged on opposite sides of the car, are connected at their forward ends to the upper ends of the contacting-frame Z) of the flexible portion, said rods extending,rearwardly any desired distance and preferably beyond the vestibule portion of the car. Elbow-levers D I) are pivoted upon each side of the car near the forward and rear ends, respectively, of the horizontal rods, to which their upper ends are indirectly connected. Vertical rods E E are connected at their upper ends with the lower members of the elbow-lm ers, the lower ends of said vertical rods being connected with the buiter-springs F, said springs F be ing arranged longitudinally beneath the car, as shown, and may be of any approved pattern. The normal tendency of the springs F is to spring downward. If desired, transverse springs F may be employed to connect Serial No. 348,211. (No model.)

the vertical rods upon the opposite sides of the car. Enlargements G G are formed upon the horizontal rods C near the forward and rear ends, respectively, and the upper ends of the elbow-levers are provided with the friction-wheels II and H, adapted for contact with the enlargements G and G, respectively. The elbow-levers will move in the are of a circle, as shown in dot-ted lines, when pressed back by the enlargements, and said enlargements are so constructed that they will always be in contact with the frictionwheels when moving. If desired, the enlargements and friction-wheels may be dis pensed with, and the rods and elbow-levers connected by means of links K, as shown in Fig. 2. It will of course be understood that the operating mechanism may be either upon the exterior of the car or within the same, and it is also obvious that the number of springs, &c'., may be reduced or multiplied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In a device constructed as described the operation is as follows: The springs F and F, pressing downward, throw the upper members of the elbow-levers forward, and consequently move the horizontal rods forward, which, being attached to the contact-ing'frame of the flexible portion, distend said portion and hold it in that position. If from sudden stop or other cause the flexible portions should be collapsed, the enlargements or links will throw the upper member of the elbow-levers rearward and draw the lower members upward. This upward movement is resisted by the springs, which act as butters, greatly reducing the shock or jar, and as soon as the heavy strain is removed force the flexible portions outward, as already described. From the above it will be seen that the flexible portions are always in contact, that all sudden jars are greatly, it not entirely, relieved, and that the flexible portions are immediately distended to their normal positions the moment the heavy strain is removed, thus rendering the connection between the ears constant.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a vestibule car, the combination, with the contactingframe, of the horizontal rods,

the elbow-levers connected with said rods, and the buffer-springs connected also with the elbow-levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a vestibule-car, the combination, with the contacting-frames, of the horizontal rods,

elbow-levers pivoted to the car near said rods and adapted to be moved rearwardly by said rods, and the buffer-springs secured beneath the car, connected with the elbow-levers and adapted to move the same forward, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a vestibule-car, the combination,with the contacting-frame, of the horizontal rods connected therewith at their forward ends, elbow-levers pivoted to the car near the forward and rear ends of said rods and adapted to be moved rearward by the same, the Vertical rods connected to the lower member of the elbow-levers, and the buffer-springs arranged beneath the car and connected with the vertical rods, whereby the elbow-levers are moved forward, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a vestibule-car, the combination, with the contacting-frame, of the horizontal rods having enlargements near the forward and rear ends, and the elbow-levers pivoted to the car adjacent to the front and rear ends of the rods and adapted to be engaged at their upper ends by the enlargements on the horizontal rods, the lower ends of said levers being connected with the buffer-springs, Whereby the elbow-levers, horizontal rods, and contacting-frame are thrown forward, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a vestibule-car, the combinatiomwith the contacting-frame, of the horizontal rods having enlargements near the forward and rear ends of the same, the elbow-levers pivoted to the car adjacent to said enlargements, the friction-rollers mounted upon the upper ends of the elbow-levers, the vertical rods connected with the lower ends, and the buffer-springs connected with the vertical rods, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN J. KIRKHAM. Witnesses;

E1). M. LAPIERRE, GRANT 11001). 

